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Just about every parent has had to deal with that moment when their child steals their first candy bar or pack of gum from the supermarket check-out line. First they experience the initial shock and horror that comes from the realization that their child is not perfect, then comes the embarrassment and shame. Typically this is followed by the lecture to the young criminal to explain that stealing is wrong. Some parents come up with an eloquent speech to their child to explain the importance of honesty and integrity. Other parents take the approach of explaining the impact stealing has on the jobs of those nice individuals employed at the grocery store where the crime occurred. And some parents forgo explaining anything at all and instead send the child to their room to take a much needed “time-out”. But then there is Boyd Anderson. Boyd is my father-in-law, and a retired dairy farmer from Idaho. Boyd is a no-nonsense guy and a man of few words, but when words do come out of his mouth, everyone listens.

Boyd Anderson

When Boyd’s children were young he discovered that one of them had stolen a candy bar from the local store. Boyd looked at his child and asked “Want to go to Hell over a Candy Bar?” And there it was. In less than ten words he managed to teach one of the most valuable lessons any person can learn - Stealing is wrong. Whether it is stealing five cents or five million dollars, stealing is wrong, and the damage to your character is the same, so don’t be foolish enough to trade your soul for the value of a candy bar.

In business, and in life, we come across many individuals who could benefit greatly from considering Boyd’s question. People get caught up in the trap of telling themselves that “stealing just a little bit here or there won’t hurt anything…no one will miss it? It’s just a few paper clips and pencils, after all. And the company has plenty of them on hand. Plus, they can afford it.” But, is it really worth trading our soul for what is so often of no more value than a candy bar?

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (www.shopliftingprevention.org) estimates that product theft causes $13 billion in annual losses. That’s more than $35 million per day. And that is just the amount stolen from retailers. What’s worse is the fact that the $13 billion pales in comparison to the amount of money stolen every year by employees. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (www.uschamber.com), the cost of piracy and counterfeiting alone is over $250 billion each year, and the cost of IP theft is over $250 billion each year as well. The cost to companies of all the types of stealing that goes on is staggering. It results in major losses of revenue and ultimately a major loss in jobs. And all of us have witnessed those companies where it resulted in a loss of an entire business. So, what then, is the fix? The next time any of us are tempted to steal something, regardless of how small or insignificant, perhaps we should stop and ask ourselves the question, “Want to go to Hell over a Candy Bar?” :)